Glimpse is a dance show that elegantly zooms in on the anxieties felt by young adults. ParaSOUL Dance blends contemporary, capoeira, and house within the piece to depict how life and love may feel like as a young adult.

Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier, Candice Irwin, Kelsey Woods, and Angela Xu of ParaSOUL Dance appear at the start of the show adorned in a similar color scheme. It was unclear to me (a non-dancer) what each dancer is supposed to represent at the start of the piece. Is each dancer a symbol of an individual person or a representation of varying emotions? Does each dancer represent different stages of a woman’s life or is each dancer an individual; are there four stories we will witness? At this point, I felt like I had more questions than answers.

I allow myself to delve in and follow the dancers journey throughout the next few sequences. At times, the four dancers seem to move in unison. Depending on the mood of the piece, dancers would break apart in what seemed like their own rhythm. I felt at ease when the company would showcase the same choreography, yet at slightly varying times. It created vivid imagery for me, like ripples in water, which had a calming effect on me.

Though minimal, there is sporadic dialogue intertwined into the choreography. In one sequence, the company used overlaying whispers during a group number. In the muddled whispers, we hear phrases like, “Oprah Winfrey did [this] at age 23.” We catch multiple statements that are in the same theme of career comparison. My interpretation is that the act of comparing one’s life to famous women helps these young women cope with their current career trajectory.

I was slightly disappointed that each dancer’s facial expression tended to remain neutral in many numbers. This lack of facial expression made it difficult for me to understand what the intention of the piece was. It also made it difficult to connect as an audience member.

The company of ParaSOUL Dance are no doubt skilled, athletic dancers. Grapple with moments of anxieties and relish in moments of joy with the company of ParaSOUL Dance in GLIMPSE.

Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Festival Box Office at Scadding Court (275 Bathurst St.), and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.

This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route.

Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.

The Toronto Fringe Festival is scent-free: please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other strongly-scented products.

Performances

Thursday July 4th, 6:15 pm

Saturday July 6th, 1:15 pm

Sunday July 7th, 8:30 pm

Tuesday July 9th, 9:00 pm

Thursday July 11th, 4:45 pm

Friday July 12th, 9:15 pm

Saturday July 13th, 4:30 pm

Photo of Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier, Candice Irwin, Kelsey Woods, and Angela Xu provided by the company